Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be given at least two more games to prove himself before any fear of the sack, reliable journalist Ashley Preece has claimed.

The Lowdown: Gerrard feeling the heat

The Villans hosted Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon but it proved to be another bad result as the Blues walked away 2-0 winners.

In fairness to Villa, they actually played well in patches, but a combination of individual mistakes and a lack of ruthlessness ultimately proved costly.

Gerrard is now under huge pressure to keep his job, amid chants of 'sacked in the morning' on Sunday and reports of boardroom talks being held over the possibility of his dismissal, and a pivotal run of games lay ahead for him.

The Latest: Preece makes Gerrard claim

Writing in a Q&A for Birmingham Mail, Preece said that the 42-year-old will be in charge for Villa's upcoming games against Fulham and Brentford, at which point a decision could then be made if their fortunes don't improve.

The reporter stated:

"Fair to suggest SG will be given the next two games at least to transform Villa’s fortunes. After this week (Fulham/Brentford) it’s then Newcastle (a), Man Utd (h), Man Utd (a) and Brighton (a). It’s now or never isn’t it really."

The Verdict: Make-or-break week

It feels like Villa need an absolute minimum of three points from these next two matches, although four or six would have Gerrard feeling far safer in his job.

A couple of massive performances are required against Fulham and Brentford, and if the desired results aren't achieved, a managerial change may well be needed.

Gerrard has been shown plenty of support from the owners to date after significant summer investment, but there will come a point when his position becomes untenable. The next seven days could give a far clearer picture of the 42-year-old's situation in the Midlands.